Yakubu strikes late to seal progress

With the match seemingly heading for extra-time after a desperate second half Danny Gabbidon headed the ball past his own goalkeeper allowing the Nigerian to poke home the winner.

The Hammers had taken an 11th-minute lead through Carlton Cole but Everton always looked more dangerous in possession during the first half and levelled through Leon Osman. Everton's win extended their unbeaten run to 11 matches in all competitions and they return to Upton Park to tackle West Ham in the league at the weekend.

Dean Ashton and Freddie Ljungberg returned to the Hammers' starting line-up for the first time since October with Matthew Etherington out injured and Nolberto Solano cup-tied.

After a brief scare when the lights went out 15 minutes before kick-off, Everton engineered the first chance in a cagey opening. Lee Carsley's drive was deflected wide and West Ham looked vulnerable as Mikel Arteta delivered two testing corners, the second of which Yakubu headed wide.

Ashton just failed to control Hayden Mullins' angled ball towards the edge of the penalty area and the ball just skipped away from Ljungberg stealing in at the far post. But another angled ball from deep, this time from Lucas Neill, undid the Everton defence as Cole escaped his man and beat the on-rushing Tim Howard with one touch before clipping the ball home.

West Ham could not maintain the momentum as Everton assumed control. A scuffed clearance from Matthew Upson invited pressure and caused confusion in the West Ham area. Mikel Arteta missed his kick and Tim Cahill went down hard under a fair challenge from Upson.

Green tipped Steven Pienaar's low cross away from Cahill but eventually the pressure told. With Everton camped in and around the West Ham box, Pienaar slid a neat pass to the unmarked Osman who curled his shot past the stranded Green.

West Ham increasingly resorted to long and ineffectual balls towards Cole and Ashton which Joseph Yobo and Phil Jagielka dealt with comfortably and their solitary effort of the half was an instinctive volley from Cole which sailed wide.

With extra-time looming, West Ham gifted Everton victory. Gabiddon allowed Jagielka's long ball to bounce and just as Green was coming out to claim the central defender headed it through the keeper's arms allowing Yakubu to pounce.